Cylinder door construction



Dec. 20,1938. FjA. GERLACH 2,140,621 v CYLINDER DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed sept.A 7, 1955 2 snee*CS-'shewb 1 l @RME r f 13g-Il la a z gf avi a as A l" /4 "i ff y Fla-8 vFui-4 L i f n A INVENTOR l 60 FRANK A. GERLACH ATT RNEY Dec. F. A; G*ERLAC`H v yCYLINDER DOOR CONSTRUCTI'ON Filed sept,v 7, 1955 2 sheets-snee*u 2 I lllllll,

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- lflfkluNlTED STATES PArENr 'OFFICE v 2,140,621 Y y Y v CYLINDER Doon CONSTRUCTION .a Frank A. Gerlach, Cincinnati, Ohio, a'ssignor'to' The American Laundryv Machinery Company, n ,Norwoodg Ohio, acorporation of Ohio w Application September 7, 1935, Serial No. 39,544

2 Claims.'v (Cl. 220-32) VMy' invention relates to washing machine ,y `1 drums or cylinders, includingk doors for such cyl- ,in'ders,- and improvedmeans for, maintainingthe 'doors in a tightly sealed relationship with the ydrum during the Washing operation. Y n

-' *InV cylinders or drums utilized in washing machinesit is essential to maintain the doors tightlyV -sealed with respect tothe body of the'cylinder fduring -the'washing operation; otherwise, parts A lpf'fthe fabric may become embeddedpr caught (in openings or crevices'between the door and the vcylinderand stretched or torn during the washing,l operation. Since the drum is continuallyem- C ployedV duringy the life 'of the washingmachine,`

5 fsomewear of mating parts is inevitable and, consequently, itis also desirable to provide some a fjfmeanstocompensatefor such irregularities s'ok [that the door may be' maintainedv in tightly sealed -j relationship with respect tothe body of the cylin- A' f'fderduring the ylife of the washer. l

Itis therefore an objectof my invention to provide an-improved door `construction Vforxwashing machine cylinders for drumsvwhich may: be maintained in a tightly sealed position with respect tothecylinder or drum. Another object, is

" 'justing such mechanism whereby the door mayy be maintained in sealed relationship with the cyl- "inder body during the entire life of the washer. l My invention will be better understood by referenc'e to the accompanying drawings in which Figli is afront elevational view showingthey f doors in closed position; Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are f 4,; cross sectional views on lines 2 2, 3--3, 4 4,

i ,5;5 and sl-s respectively of Fig. 1; Fig. '1 is a detail sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig.`1;

n and Fig.`8 is a cross section on the line'8-8 of YFig-2.

vchine cylinder is of the usual construction including aplurality'of staves I provided with recesses which receive the end plates 2. The cylin-` "der is surrounded adjacent itsendsvwith'suitable '55l metal-bands `3 and tandis providedwith truntoprovide improved'sealing means for washing l be adjusted. The upper leaves oi the hinges are Referring to-thedrawingsjthe washingmanions 5 and 6. rThe stave adjacent the upper sill projects downwardly as indicated at 1 into the interiorof the cylinder to act as a lifting rib and to form a strong support for the upper hinge leaf 8. Sills S-'and I0 likewise project a short distance into the cylinder and are provided with recesses II and I2, respectively, into which portions ofthe doors extend.

Staves I adjacent each side of the door are provided with recesses into which is fitted substantiallyV U-shaped metal panels I3 having outwardly extending flanges I4 which are fixed to the VstavesI in any suitable manner, such. as by means of screwsl5.

As illustrated, the opening is adapted to be closed by a'main door I6 which is shown for purposes Yof illustration as the upper door, and a secondary door I1, shown as the lower door. The stavesin the upper door are maintained in assembled relationship by plates I8 and I9 which are fixed to the staves by means of bolts 20. The plates extend over` the sides of flanges 2 and contact with resilient strips 2I located in the [U -shaped panell3. At their upper ends the metal'plates are provided with knuckles I9a which `interi-lt with knuckles 22 in the upper leaf of the hinge.l .The knuckles are held in position by tapered pins 23 provided with threaded nuts 2361l so that any wear upon the knuckles or bolts may A'attached to the adjacent stave and the sill 9 by bolts r2li and 25 respectively. Bolts 25 pass through one flange of an angle iron 2B, the other flange of which lits into the recess II and forms -a smooth metalsurface against which the upper door bears in its closed position.

Thelower door is attached to the frame of the cylinder by hinges, the leaves 21 of which are attached to sill I0 and the stave adjacent thereto by means of bolts 29 and 3l) respectively. Bolts 3D pass through one flange of an angle iron 3|, the 'other flange 32 of which fits in the recess 33 land formsa bearing for the end of the door. It will be noted that sill IIJ isalso bevelled inwardly as indicated at 34 to form a support for the lower edgeof the' door I1. The leaf 21 of each of the lower hinges is provided with a knuckle 35 which ts between lugs 36 projecting outwardly from the bottom of the door and tapered bolts 38, provided with nuts 39, serve las pivots on which the door is l -rotated.jBolts 38 are tapered and may accordingly be adjusted at desired intervals to take up any play caused by wear. Door I1 is provided withr outwardly extending shoulders or iianges 11a at each end which extend over the adjacent u -llush with the inner face of the flange 2.

staves and the lower door is provided with a cover having downwardly extending side walls which form recesses for the hinges of sufficient length to permit nuts 39 to be adjusted.

The upper door is provided at its lower portion with a metallic member having a flat bottom 40, a substantially vertical portion 4| which terminates in an outwardly extending flange 42, and an upwardly inclined ilange 44 which forms the bevelled bottom edge of the' upper door. The outwardly extending flange 42 fits in a recess 43 in the lower wooden stave of the door. The lower door is also preferably formed of metal and Vconsists of a bottom portion 45 having an upwardly extending bevelled flange 46 forming an edge which has the same, or substantially the same, degree of inclination as the flange 44 on the upper door.

The face of the flange 44 is provided with an undercut groove 59 in which is inserted a strip 5| whichris preferablyy formed Vof rubber or other resilient material. The resilientstrip 5| extends beyond the confine of groove 59 and is provided with flanges 5,2 andp53 whichextend along .the face of the flange 44 and are adapted to bear against flange y4E on the lower door when the doors are `in closed position.V From Fig. 5 of the drawings it will be noted that the inclined or lbevelled face 4.5 ofthelower door is also adapted to bear against inclined face 3l on the outer cas- -ing 54 of the washing machine when the `lower door is in op-en position. The door therefore serves as .an unloading shelf between the inner cylinder and the outer casing of the washing machine.

In :the `closed position the vbevelled edge 44 of the upper ydoorilts over the bevelled edge 45 Aof the lower doorand the doors are held in place by a latching mechanism which ilts in the recess formed by flanges 4| and .44 and includes wedgeshaped -elements a55which are adapted toilt into keepers .5.9 disposed at points substantially opposite the metal portionof the upper door.

As .the keepers in ,the frame on both sides of the door are the same. adetailed illustration of only one .has beenshown. `As illustrated in Figs.

y2 and 3.of the drawings, stepped recesses 59 and 59 are formed in the staves in alignment with the wedges 55'. 'Fitted in the/lower `recess 5.9 is a frame 6|) having a downwardly extending Aflange 5| which ilts in a recess `62 in the stave and is Flanges 53 and 64 extending outwardly from fra-me 69, see Fig. l5, also fit in recesses in the stave. The framef maybe secured-in place by any suitable means, such as screws v$5 `which are inserted through `apertures in the framefand are threaded into the stave.

A reinforcing strip 68` located above 'plate3 and a ywedge E9 having a` ilange I9 extending in the recess formed by step 58 below the plate, are secured to the plate 3 bymeans of threaded bolts passing through apertures lin the ls uperposed members,the bolts beingprovided with nuts l2.

The wedge is also provided with laterally extending reinforced flanges 13 through `which set screws 14 extendso .that the vinclined. face 15 of the wedge maybe' maintained in `the proper position to receive the wedge-shaped lelements.

'Bolts l5, provided with lock `nuts Ti extend through reinforcing `stripsgl and the plate 13 for adjusting thewedgein proper-position. )For instance, vif itisfdesired to adjustgthe wedge downwardly, nuts i12 are loosened, yfthe set Screws 1124 are. adjusted upwardly4 a sufficient Lextentjno.lower handle and the boss 9|.

Ygated openings 9'l formed in bolts 85. one of the bolts 851s :hollow to provide a support the front portion of the wedge to the desired extent the nuts are loosened and the bolts 16 are threaded farther into the recess 'l I. The nuts Il are then tightened to maintain the bolts 16 in the desired position. Wedge 69 is provided with an upwardly extending ledge 'i3 which is adapted to bear against the plate 3 and reinforcing strip 68.

Wedges 5.5 of the latching mechanism are supported adjacent the keepers by upwardly extending flanges 89 which are bifurcated and provided with plates 8|. Plates 8| maintain the wedges 55 in position but permit sliding movement. The

, wedges 55 are preferably formed integral with bolts 85, the other end of the bolts being supported in the aperture of brackets 86 which extend upwardly from the bottom plate 4) of the upper door. The bolts 55 are provided with collars 81 and Vsprings 5l' are disposed around the bolts between brackets 86 and collars 8l which t-end to force lthe wedges linto the keepers. Y

"A handle .is `rotatably supported on a pivot 89 whichextends through the handle and is journalled rat its opposite Aends in hollow bosses 99 and 9| extending inwardly fromthe ilanges 4| and 44. A spacer92 is interposedbetween the Handle `88 is provided with a rectangular projection 99 upon which is mounted a cam 94, the opposite sides of which are provided with aperturesin-which the ends of links 95 and 96 are insertedand fastened. The other ends lof links .95 and 95 extend into elon- At least for a spring which bears against the end of link 95.V The `handle 83 is provided with a post or leg 98 4which engages a projection 99 extending upwardly from the bottom of plate 49. It will be particularly noted that the post 98 enables the handle to be maintained at a .sullcient distance A:from the bottom of the recess to permit the hand of the operator to be placed over the edge of flange 44 to assist in opening the door.

When it is desired to open the door the handle 8911s moved in a clockwise direction. There will be first a, small lost motion due to the elongated slot-91. Wedges 55-will then be pulled out of the keepers and the door maybe opened. When` the door is closed springsl force the wedges in position and spring 6l serves to force the links 95 and 96 totheir outermost position thus maintain- 4ing the handle close to thedoor.

justable keepers the door maynot only be maintained in tightly sealed relationshipy with respect to -thecylinder initallybut maybe adjusted at intervals so that a tight fit will be obtained dur- .ing the vliie of ,the cylinder.

Tothoseskilledin the art manymodillcations ,and widely different -embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves without 4,departing vfrom the spirit and scope thereof.' vMy;1.is ;1.os.u1eand '.descrintgn herein flare purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any. sense limiting.

What IV claimv is:

1.In combinatonya washing machine drum having an openingin its'peripheral Wall and a 'bevelled edge member associated with said wall,

Y 'y a secondary door pivotally attached to the drum wall adjacent one edge of said opening on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said f 10 drum, said door having an exposed bevelled surface along the full length of its free edge portion and side extensions which restupon the adjacent walls of the cylinder when the door is closed, a main door pivotally attached to the cylinder wall y15 adjacent the opposite edge of said opening and having the full length of its free edge provided with a bevelled surface mating that of thesecdoor when both doors are in closed posi `tion,l a'. resilient strip arranged between the bevelled*` edge of saidvmember for simultaneously securing the doors' in closed position and for forc- '125 ing the bevelled edge of the maink door inwardly Ltoward the bevelled edge of the secondary Vdoor against the resilient action of said strip.

2. In combination, a washing machine cylinder t having an opening in its cylindrical Wall and a bevelled edge member associated with said wall, a secondary door pivotally attached to the cylinder wall adjacent one side edge of said opening, said door having an exposed bevelled surface along ythe full length of its free edge and side extensions which rest upon the adjacentwalls of the cylinder when the door is in closed position, resilient strips arrangedin grooves in the cylinder wall along the end edges of said opening and projecting outwardly beyond the cylinder walls, a main door pivotally attached to the cylinder Wall adjacent the other side edge of said opening, said main door having side extensions Which engage the resilient strips and the full length of its free edge being provided with a bevelled surface mating that of the secondary door when the doors are in closed position, a resilient strip located between said doors, and a latching mechanism associated With the main door and having a bevelled edge portion engageable with the bevelled edge of said member for simultaneously securing the doors in closed position and for forcing the doors closed against the action of all of said resilient strips.

vFRANK A. GERLACH. 

